Karen Sewell
Associate Professor / Graduate Programs Supervisor
| Degrees: | PhD, MSW (Toronto), BA/BSW (McMaster) |
| Email: | karen.sewell@carleton.ca |
Biography
I am a social worker with over twenty years of practice experience in children’s and youth mental health, and a research profile demonstrating a commitment to strengthening clinical supervision in human services, the social work profession, social work advocacy to support client recovery, and transformative social work pedagogy including simulation-based learning. My program of research centers on the improvement of social work and human services through the development, delivery, and evaluation of effective clinical programs, with the role of supervision a key component, and a focus on community collaboration. This includes teaching and supporting the development and ongoing maintenance of holistic competence for practitioners and students.
Education
Ph.D. University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
M.S.W. University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
B.A./B.S.W. McMaster University, School of Social Work
Research and Teaching Interests
- Clinical supervision
- Clinical practice
- Social work advocacy
- Children and youth mental health
- Intervention and implementation research
- Social work education
- Simulation-based learning
Current Research Projects
P.I. Advocacy strategies supporting Social Determinants of Heath: Paving the path to community reintegration and recovery. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Planning and Dissemination Grant.
P.I., Community reintegration and recovery: Exploring and embedding social work advocacy practices to influence the social determinants of health. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Partnership Engage Grant.
P.I., Examining workplace-based supervision to strengthen human services. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Insight Development Grant.
Co.I., Bridging Critical Social Work Education and Clinical Practice: A Design-Based Research Study Using Simulated Practice. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Grant (Kenta Asakura, P.I.).
Co.I., Understanding clinical social work practice in Ontario: Toward social justice-oriented profession. University of Toronto (Toula Kourgiantakis, P. I.).
Courses (2020-2024)
SOWK 4001
SOWK 5001
SOWK 5018
SOWK 6301 and 6302
Recent Publications (2020 – present, referred journals)
Sewell, K. M., Janse van Rensberg, M., Misha, F., & Taylor, I. Field education in the shadow of COVID-19: A scoping review in memory of Marion Bogo (Accepted 2023, March 16). Journal of Social Work Education.
Regehr, C., Paterson, J., Bogo, M., Birze, A., Sewell, K. M., Fallon, B. & Regehr, G. (Accepted, 2023, January 1). Provoking reflection in action in experienced professionals: An educational intervention. Journal of Social Work Education.
Moore, J., Roberson, K., Sewell, K. M., & Deimling-Johns, L. (2023) Knowledge mobilization in clinical supervision: An autoethnographic analysis of creating the Clinical Supervision Connection Podcast . The Clinical Supervisor. Advanced online publication: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07325223.2023.2183921.
Sewell, K. M., McMenemy, C., Van Rensburg, M. J., & MacDonald, H. (2023). Organizational outcomes of supervision within human services: A scoping review. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/23303131.2023.2226197
Sewell, K. M., Mishna, F., Sanders, J.E., Bogo, M., Milne, B. & Greenblatt, A. (2023). Supervision of Information Communication Technologies in social work practice: A mixed methods study. The British Journal of Social Work, 53, 490-512. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcac113
Sewell, K. M., Occhiuto, K., Tarshis, S., Kalmanovich, A., & Todd, S. (Accepted, 2022, October 11). Adapting to online live streamed OSCEs: A teaching note. Journal of Social Work Education. Advanced online publication: https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2023.2194318
Sewell, K. M., Occhiuto, K., Tarshis, S., Kalmanovich, A., & Todd, S. (2023). Simulation in social work education: A qualitative study of Standardized Clients’ experiences. Social Work Education. Advanced online publication: https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2023.2194318
Sewell, K. M., Platts, J. M., & McMenemy, C. (2023). Learning from the field: Developing an organizational culture of supervision in community based mental health. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance. https://doi.org/10.1080/23303131.2023.2165582
Asakura, K., Sewell, K. M., Rawlings, M., Bay, U. & Kourgiantakis, T. (2022). Marion Bogo, a visionary, innovator, and leader: Groundbreaking work on simulation-based social work education. Journal of Social Work Education. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2022.2069626
Bogo, M., Sewell, K. M., Mohamud, F., & Kourgiantakis, T. (2022). Social work field instruction: A scoping review. Social Work Education, 41(4), 391-424. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2020.1842868
Occhiuto, K., Sewell, K. M. & Asakura, K. (2022). Pivoting to online live-streamed simulations: Students’ experiences in clinical social work education. Journal of Social Work Education. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2022.2089306
Kourgiantakis, T., Ashcroft, R., A., Mohamud, F., Benedict, A., Lee, E., Craig, S., Sewell, K. M., Johnston, M., McLuckie, & Sur, D. (2022). Clinical social work practice in Canada: A critical examination of regulation. Research on Social Work Practice, 33(1),15-28. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315221109486
Kourgiantakis, T., Sanders, J. E., Sewell, K. M., Asakura, K., & Bogo, M. (2022). Students’ conceptualization of culture and diversity with a simulated client. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 31(3), 356-369. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2020.1839618
Kourgiantakis, T., Sewell, K. M., et al. (2022). Mental health, addictions, and suicide risk assessment in social work education and training. Journal of Social Work Education, 58(1), 123-148. https//doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2020.1773363
Kourgiantakis, T., Sewell, K. M., Sanders, J. E., Craig, S., & Bogo, M. (2022). Preparing advanced standing students for clinical social work practice: A teaching note. Journal of Social Work Education, 8(4), 780-786. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2021.1963897
Regehr, C., Paterson, J., Sewell, K. M., Birze, A., Bogo, M., Fallon, B. & Regehr, G. (2022). Improving professional decision-making in situations of risk and uncertainty: A pilot intervention. The British Journal of Social Work, 52(3),1341-1361. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab131
Regehr, C., Paterson, J., Sewell, K. M., Birze, A., Bogo, M., Fallon, B. & Regehr, G. (2022). Tolerating risk: Differences in professional judgement on suicide risk assessment. Social Service Review, 96(1), 4-33. https://doi.org/10.1086/718580
Sewell, K.M. & Ederer, R. (2022). Implementing a supervision model in community children’s mental health: Experiences of supervisors and practitioners. Psychological Services, 20(2), 227-238. https://doi:10.1037/ser0000685
Asakura, K., Gheorghe, R., Borgen, S., Sewell, K. M., MacDonald, H. (2021). Using simulation as an investigative methodology in researching competencies of clinical social work practice: A scoping review. Clinical Social Work Journal, 49(2), 231-243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-020-00772-x
Kourgiantakis, T., Sewell, K. M., Ashcroft, R., & Lee, E. (2021) Canadian social work education in mental health and addictions: Understanding perspectives of faculty members. Social Work Education. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2021.1985104
Kourgiantakis, T., Sewell, K. M., Kirvan, A., & Lee, E. (2021). MSW student’s perspectives on learning in a social work practice in mental health course: A qualitative research study. Social Work in Mental Health, 19(2), 141-165. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2021.1894628
Mishna, F., Sanders, J. E., Sewell, K. M., & Milne, E. (2021). Preparing social workers for the digital future of social work practice. Journal of Social Work Education, 57, no. sup1, 19-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2021.1912676
Sewell, K.M. (2021). Supporting children’s mental health evidence-based interventions: Feasibility study of a workplace-based supervision model. The Clinical Supervisor, 40(1), 134-157. https://doi.org/10.1080/07325223.2021.1905126
Sewell, K. M., Kao, D., & Asakura, K. (2021). Clinical supervision in frontline health care: A survey of social workers in Ontario, Canada. Social Work in Health Care, 60(2).282-299. https://doi.org/10.1080/00981389.2021.1880532
Sewell, K. M., Janse van Rensburg, M., McMenemy, C., & MacDonald, H. (2021). Organizational outcomes of supervision within human services: A scoping review protocol. Open Science Framework. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/8RSUG
Sewell, K. M., Sanders, J. E., Kourgiantakis, T., Katz, E., & Bogo, M. (2021). Cognitive and affective processes: MSW students’ awareness and coping through simulated interviews. Social Work Education, 40(5), 641-655. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2020.1727875
Kourgiantakis, T., Sewell, K. M., et al. (2020). Enhancing social work education in mental health, addiction and suicide risk assessment using simulation: A teaching note. Journal of Social Work Education, 56(3), 587-594. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2019.1656590
Sewell, K. M. (2020). Examining the place of emotions, affect, and regulation within social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 56(1), 5-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2019.1627262
Sewell, K. M., Fredericks, K., Mohamud, A., Kallis, J., & Augimeri, L. K. (2020). Youth experiences in evaluating a Canadian SNAP Boys Youth Leadership Program integrating risk management, resilience and positive youth development. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 37(3), 301-314. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-020-00658-4
Book Chapters
Bogo, M. & Sewell, K. M. (2022). Social Work Field Education in Canada. In R. Baikady, Sajid, S.M., V. Nadesan, & M. R. Islam (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Field Education in Social Work (pp.124-140). Abington, England: Routledge.
Sewell, K. M. (2022). The SNAP model of supervision. In K.O’Donoghue & L. Engelbrecht (Eds.), Routledge International Handbook of Social Work Supervision (pp.371-385). Abingdon, England: Routledge.
Kourgiantakis, T., Sewell, K. M., Bogo, M. (2020). Preparing students for field education using simulation-based learning. In R. Egan, N. Hill & W. Rollins (Eds.), Challenges, opportunities, and innovations in social work field education (pp.84-95). Abingdon, England: Routledge.
Augimeri, L. K., Walsh, M., Levene, K., Sewell, K., & Rajca, E. (2014). Stop Now and Plan (SNAP®) Model. In G. Bruinsma & D. Weisburd (Eds.), Encyclopedia of criminology and criminal justice (pp.5053–5063). New York, NY: Springer Science – Business Media.
Edited Collections
Bogo, M. & Sewell, K. M. (2019). (Guest Editor). Special Issue on Field Education of Students. Clinical Social Work Journal, 47, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-018-0696-z
Bogo, M. & Sewell, K. M. (2018). (Guest Editor). Special Issue on the Supervision of Staff. Clinical Social Work Journal, 46, 249-251. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-018-0690-5
Editorial Board Membership
Studies in Clinical Social Work: Transforming Practice, Education and Research
Audio Publications
Roberson, K. (Host), Moore, J. (Host), Sewell, K. M. (Executive Producer), & Deimling Johns, L. (Executive Producer) (2023, June). A year in the life of a podcast (No.7). In The Clinical Supervision Connection Podcast. https://soundcloud.com/csc-podcast/a-year-in-review-of-the-life-of-a-podcast
Moore, J. (Host), Roberson, K. (Host), Deimling Johns, L. (Executive Producer), & Sewell, K. M. (Executive Producer) (2022, November). Leaping through the layers of Clinical Supervision – Dr. Rita Glover (No. 6) [Audio podcast]. In The Clinical Supervision Connection Podcast. https://soundcloud.com/csc-podcast/leaping-through-the-layers-of-clinical-supervision-dr-rita-glover
Roberson, K. (Host), Moore, J. (Host), Sewell, K. M. (Executive Producer), & Deimling Johns, L. (Executive Producer) (2022, October). Shaping Environments for and with Clinical Supervision – Dr. Liz Beddoe. In The Clinical Supervision Connection Podcast. https://soundcloud.com/csc-podcast/shaping-environments-for-and-with-clinical-supervision-dr-liz-beddoe
Moore, J. (Host), Roberson, K. (Host), Deimling Johns, L. (Executive Producer), & Sewell, K. M. (Executive Producer) (2022, March). Quijotadas for the Clinical Supervision Community – Dr. Maria del Pilar Grazioso (No. 5) [Audio podcast]. In The Clinical Supervision Connection Podcast. https://soundcloud.com/csc-podcast/quijotadas-for-the-clinical-supervision-community
Roberson, K. (Host), Moore, J. (Host), Sewell, K. M. (Executive Producer), & Deimling Johns, L. (Executive Producer) (2021, October). Welcome to the CSRC – Dr. L. DiAnne Borders & Dr. Michael V. Ellis (No. 4) [Audio podcast]. In The Clinical Supervision Connection Podcast. https://soundcloud.com/csc-podcast/welcome-to-the-csrc-dr-dianne-borders-dr-michael-v-ellis
Moore, J. (Host), Roberson, K. (Host), Deimling Johns, L. (Executive Producer), & Sewell, K. M. (Executive Producer) (2021, July). Prologue – Building a clinical supervision research community (No. 1) [Audio podcast]. In The Clinical Supervision Connection Podcast. https://soundcloud.com/csc-podcast/prologue-building-a-community
Moore, J. (Host), Roberson, K. (Host), Deimling Johns, L. (Executive Producer), & Sewell, K. M. (Executive Producer) (2021, July). The mountains and valleys of clinical supervision – Dr. Michael V. Ellis (No. 3) [Audio podcast]. In The Clinical Supervision Connection Podcast. https://soundcloud.com/csc-podcast/the-mountains-and-valleys-of-clinical-supervision-dr-michael-v-ellis
Roberson, K. (Host), Moore, J. (Host), Sewell, K. M. (Executive Producer), & Deimling Johns, L. (Executive Producer) (2021, July). The breadth of pedagogy in clinical supervision – Dr. L. DiAnne Borders (No. 2) [Audio podcast]. In The Clinical Supervision Connection Podcast. https://soundcloud.com/csc-podcast/l-dianne-borders-episode-final-revised-2175
Affiliations
Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
Ontario Association of Social Workers
Canadian Association for Social Work Educators
Council for Social Work Education
Society for Social Work and Research
International Interdisciplinary Conference on Clinical Supervision (Co-Convener, Executive Board Member)
Clinical Supervision Research Collaborative (Advisory Board Member)
SIM Social Work Research Lab (Research Associate)
Mental Health and Well-being Research and Training Hub (Research Member)
